Top 100 Fastest Growing, Largest Churches Revealed
Peter Elliott at Everyday Christian reports that LifeWay Research and Outreach Magazine have published their annual issue charting the 100 largest and fastest growing churches in America.
The Largest and Fastest-Growing lists are based on February and March weekend attendance averages. The 2010 Largest list includes churches with an attendance of more than 5,500 while this year’s Fastest-Growing list includes churches with attendance greater than 1,000; a numerical gain of 250 or more; and a percentage gain of at least 3 percent. Rankings for Fastest-Growing Churches are determined by factoring both percentage growth and numerical gain.
Fastest-Growing Churches Fast Facts
1. Some 643,727 people are represented by the combined attendance of the Outreach 100 Fastest-Growing Churches in America. These churches added 75,246 people over their combined previous year’s attendance, an average of more than 750 per church.
2. The state with the most churches on the Fastest-Growing list (14) is Texas. Florida and Illinois have eight, followed by California (seven), Georgia and Tennessee (both with six).
3.Combined, the 100 Fastest-Growing churches represent 373 worship sites, an average of almost four per church and 93 more than last year.
4. The youngest church on the Fastest-Growing list is Experience Life, Lubbock, Texas, (No. 2), founded in 2007. The oldest church is Mountain Christian Church, Joppa, Md. (No. 78), founded in 1824.
Largest Churches Fast Facts
1. Some 1,012,832 people are represented by the combined attendance of the Outreach 100 Largest Churches in America.
2. Combined, the 100 Largest churches represent 384 worship sites. Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, Tenn. (No. 77) has the most with 27 (primarily deaf-church sites) followed by First Baptist Church Springdale and Pinnacle Hills, Springdale, Ark., with 16, many of which are in prisons and apartment buildings.
3. Almost half (49) of the Largest churches identify themselves as “nondenominational.”
4. The youngest church on the Largest list is Elevation Church, Matthews, N.C. (No. 95), founded in 2006. The oldest is The Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York, Jamaica, N.Y., (No. 63), founded in 1834.
Top 5 Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches
1. 12Stone Church, Lawrenceville, Ga., Kevin Myers (30 percent, +2,226)
2. Experience Life Church, Lubbock, Texas, Chris Galanos (60 percent, +1,061)
3. The Rock Church and World Outreach Center, San Bernardino, Calif., Jim Cobrae (25 percent, +2,646)
4. People’s Church, Oklahoma City, Okla., Herbert Cooper (58 percent, +1,085)
5. Faith Church of St. Louis, Fenton, Mo., David Crank (36 percent, +1,200)
Top 5 Largest U.S. Churches
1. Lakewood Church, Houston, Texas, Joel Osteen, (43,500)
2. North Point Community Church, Alpharetta, Ga., Andy Stanley (24,325)
3. Second Baptist Church, Houston, Texas, Ed Young Sr. (24,041)
4. Willow Creek Community Church, South Barington, Ill., Bill Hybels (24,000)
5. Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Ky., Dave Stone (19,230)
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